Honeypaw popped an eye open. Cinderpaw wasn't back from the medicine den and the brown-striped apprentice had no doubt that it would change anytime soon. Whatever had happened to Brightheart had also happened to Cinderpaw and it scared her. She didn't want her sister to be hurt by something she couldn't help fight off with her own paws. She definitely didn't want the medicine cat apprentice stealing her sister away when Honeypaw barely knew Cinderpaw herself. It wasn't fair! Why was Firestar out all night trying to find an answer when they'd already told the truth? Did they think that the two apprentices lied? She knew Jaypaw wasn't one to give cats false promises and Cinderpaw wasn't a liar. Both apprentices seemed scared when they'd woken up, so why did no cat believe them? What would happen to them?!

She sighed and padded out of the den. She wouldn't be getting anymore sleep tonight. Strangely enough, her paws led her to the medicine den, where she found her sister and Jaypaw curled up in their nests. Leafpool's nest wasn't that far away and all three of them slept soundly. She felt silly for waking them up because she was worried over nothing.

"Are you okay?" Jaypaw's misted blue eyes bored into her pelt, but she didn't feel the unease she thought she would.

"I didn't mean to wake you. I just… are you two going to be okay?"

He turned to Cinderpaw and nudged her awake.

"What?!" She growled tiredly.

"Maybe you should go back to sleeping in the apprentices' den."

"I was going to ask if I could go back tomorrow. Why?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay!" Honeypaw blurted out. Cinderpaw's eyes snapped open and she stared at her sister in surprise. "You were screaming and there was a lot of blood and you had scratches all over and you were rolling around and batting at something I couldn't see and- and I just…! I'm sorry." She mumbled. "I didn't mean to-. I'll go now."

Cinderpaw got to her paws and nuzzled her sister.

"It's okay for you to be worried. I didn't want you to be, but it's okay. There wasn't anything you could do about it. I'm just glad you were there when I needed you."

"But I wasn't! I couldn't stop you from getting hurt."

"I don't need you to protect me, Honeypaw. I need you to be my sister."


Cinderpaw was glad to move back to the apprentices' den. It wasn't that she didn't like being in the medicine den, quite the opposite, actually. She loved being able to help Jaypaw and Leafpool, she liked to feel needed. Her Clan needed her and here she was moping around camp because she'd gotten hurt in a stupid dream when cats were getting hurt in real life! It bugged her to no end that she could be so lazy when everyone else was bringing back prey or practicing battle tactics.

"You seem stressed." Her ghostly friend offered.

I can't wait to get out of camp! I want to do something, not just rest my chin on my paws and wait for some cat to bring me prey! I'm not an elder!

"You're injured." Hawkfrost deadpanned. "You nearly got destroyed in that dream and you're still recovering. Your medicine cats just want to make sure you're healed before they let you go running off into battle like a crazy cat. It's what they do." If she hadn't known any better, she'd think that detected a hint of pride in the brown tabby's mew. That was when she remembered that his sister was the RiverClan medicine cat. Of course he was proud of her!


"I would like to speak with Barkface." Leafpool had padded to the WindClan border, flanked by Squirrelflight and Sorreltail. Brambleclaw and Brackenfur had accompanied Firestar to the RiverClan border, leaving the most senior warriors to watch over camp and carry on daily chores.

Of course it had to be Crowfeather and Ashfoot who showed up. She didn't know much about the older grey she-cat, save for the fact that she was Crowfeather's mother and the deputy of WindClan.

"What gives you the right to ask us anything? You're from ThunderClan!" A younger version of Crowfeather with amber eyes spat at the tabby she-cat. Crowfeather growled something to the younger tom and the poor apprentice flattened his ears and ushered a quick nod.

"He shouldn't be in too much trouble," Squirrelflight offered. "All apprentices are like that sometime."

"You would know, wouldn't you." The dark tom snorted.

"Takes a furball to know one, furball. We really do need to see Barkface, though."

"Follow me," Ashfoot ordered. The three WindClan cats turned tail and raced across the moors and Leafpool immediately knew why they weren't with RiverClan. The poor toms wouldn't have been able to keep up as well as they did, being as slender as they were compared to the pure bulk most ThunderClan cats seemed to have.

"Greetings, ThunderClanners. Ashfoot tells me you need to see Barkface." Onestar had been among the first to see the findings of his patrol.

"I do need to speak with him, if that's alright with you."

"Hello, Leafpool!" The darker brown medicine cat flicked his tail and blinked cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"

"Firestar had a dream about a few of our cats and he found out something that could affect all the Clans." Sorreltail blurted out. Barkface's expression changed drastically.

"Step into my den, you three. I think an explanation is in order."

"Now, what's this dream you were talking about?"

And the story tumbled out. The three she-cats took turned filling in where the others couldn't and Leafpool felt marginally better when it was all over.

"That's definitely something that could affect the Clans. The Dark Forest hasn't really been mentioned in many recent tales. And you say Hawkfrost, the former RiverClan deputy, was tricked by Tigerstar, who threatened Mothwing? I can see why Hawkfrost would want to agree and I can see Cinderpaw's point but if the Dark Forest you speak of is truly that powerful, it would take all of StarClan to help us, and it sounds like they don't really know as much as they want to."

"I'm sorry, Barkface. I don't mean to burden you with all of this. I just thought this was something all four Clans should know about. Firestar agreed and here we are."

"It answers a few questions I had in regards to some of my dreams." The older tom offered softly, talking more to himself. "Thank you for telling me this, Leafpool, and good luck in deciphering it all. I hope your Clanmates turn out alright, especially those two apprentices."

"Thank you, Barkface." Leafpool dipped her head to the healer and led her sister and best friend toward the entrance."

"Did you get what you came for?" The young black tom was back at her heels.

"Yes, we did. Thank you,-."

"Breezepaw." The apprentice chirped.

"Thank you, Breezepaw. You were very brave today." Squirrelflight assured him. The little dark ball of fluff dipped his head and scampered off.


"Leopardstar! Some ThunderClan cats want to talk." Mistyfoot informed the golden leader. For a second, Firestar was back in the old forest with Bluestar, but he shook the thought out of his mind.

"Your deputy was kind enough to heed our request." The ginger leader offered, dipping his head.

"What can I do for you, Firestar? I assume this isn't a social visit."

"I have news from StarClan, but we need your medicine cat before I can begin."

Mothwing appeared with Jaypaw and Cinderpaw on her tail.

"I found these two sniffing around camp and when I asked they said I was just the cat they needed."

"What has StarClan chosen to share, and how does this affect RiverClan?"

Firestar took that as his cue and the events of the past few days came pouring out of his mouth.

By the end of it, Mothwing looked stricken and Leopardstar hadn't moved from her spot, jaws parted in shock. Mistyfoot scuffed a paw over the ground.

"I shouldn't have judged him like I did." The RiverClan deputy mewed sadly. "I should have known."

"There's no way you could have seen it coming." Mothwing gasped out. "I'm just glad he wasn't-. Oh StarClan no!" She whimpered. "I knew he shouldn't have gotten in with that stupid cat in that stupid place! Why didn't he listen?!"


Cinderpaw was cleared for light duties later that day, and for that, she was glad. Jaypaw was being way too overprotective and Leafpool and the others knew her secret now… she might as well tell her sisters.

"Hey, Honeypaw? Can you keep a secret?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"I… I don't really know how to put this." She admitted. Honeypaw twitched an ear.

"Take your time," The golden-brown she-cat advised. "And start from the beginning." So she did. She told Honeypaw and Poppypaw everything, exactly why the important cats were stuffed in the medicine den and exactly what this meant for her.

"So you mean to say that Jaypaw was your mate in a past life?" Poppypaw mewed.

"On top of the fact that Hawkfrost can talk to you in your head?" Honeypaw added.

"Are you going to be okay?!" They chorused.

"Of course! I'm still the same Cinderpaw you played with in the nursery. This isn't a new thing, guys. It's just getting worse because stuff is starting to happen."